Apparently, people are trying to find ways to experiment without doing it on animals. According to this article, they are making realistic software models of human and animal organs to test on.
"The first realistic software models of human and animal organs are starting to emerge- potentially replacing some of the 50 to 100 million animals used each year for scientific research."
The first model of how the heart works was built in 1999, but they are much better now.
"The models couple mechanical contractions to electrical waves in three dimensions, for instance, to show thousands of molecular interactions and connect the heart to virtual circulatory system."
The purpose of these models is "to observe and manipulate physiological processes to an extent that might not be possible or financially viable in a living animal or in animal parts".
While this could decrease animal experimentation, the article does state that animal experimentation will always be necessary to "discover new biochemical processes and validate software models."
A reduction in animal testing is an inevitable outcome of their work, say many.
"I am absolutely certain that in the long term this is going to dramatically
reduce the need for animal experiments," says Rod Smallwood of the University of
Sheffield, UK, who models epithelial tissues, such as those in the bladder and
skin. At Insilicomed in La Jolla, California, there is evidence that software is
doing just that.
1. How much will this decrease animal testing?
2. Will this cost a lot more to do?
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